At Varanasi we were using taxi available at travel desk of Radisson Hotel where we were staying.
One afternoon we decided to take an autorickshaw and beat the traffic as a four wheeler took long time to take us to ghats. As we came out of hotel gate, there was this man Tiwari who came walking towards us. He had a sincere look on his face and we hopped on to his rickshaw.
He lives in a village 15 kms away and this day, was at hotel gate since morning. At 3 pm he asked Lord Mahadev in his thoughts ( Varanasi is Lord Mahadev city), that today he won’t get any business and would go home empty handed and the next moment he saw us coming out of the hotel gate. He thanked Lord for giving him first customer of the day when he had lost all hopes.
Throughout the to and fro journey he told about his life and to us he appeared to be a genuine , simple fellow as most of our rural folks are.
He asked us about next day’s program and voluntered to be at hotel gate at 5am the next morning. Our program got cancelled and i felt bad that Tiwari will come all the way from his village at 5am.
Now at 11 am we came out of hotel again to take auto to Sarnath and there was our Tiwari who came running towards us with a grin on his face. He was at hotel gate at 5am. He waited till 10.30am and wodered where were we. He decided to have tea at nearby shop at a short driving distance. The moment he reached back, he saw us coming out.
He believed it was Lord Mahadev who again gave us as his first customer of the day. He did not negotiate on money, happily accepted what we gave us, took every care of us as if we were his guest in the city.
I had thought i would take his photograph and post but forgot. This post is in respect of all the Tiwaris in this world, who leave everything on God. If they get to earn their livelihood, they thank God. If they do not, they treat it as God’s wish and ask for a better day next day.
God may exist or not,intellectuals may debate God’s existence, but to thousands of folks like Tiwari, God provides a stability, a reason for everything, keeps them content and makes them look forward to each day as the will of God.
Varanasi is growing. There is all round constructions happeneing everywhere including the village where Tiwari lives. Maybe in a few years, people like Tiwari may become extinct in the rapid drive of urbanisation( developments usually changes mindset). How I wish this does not happen. People like him give joy and happiness in whatever small duration you are with them.
May Lord Mahadev bless him.
Such a sanguine soul. Thank you for sharing your anecdote it has such a happy feel.